Asst Chief Constable Garry Shewan has offered his condolences to the family of Kesia Leatherbarrow, who died aged 17, a day after she left police custody and appeared in court.

He also accepted there had been ‘shortcomings of care’ by GMP – but insisted the IPCC’s conclusion that custody officers were ‘apathetic’ toward Kesia was ‘erroneous’.

Asst Chief Constable Garry Shewan said today: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of Kesia Leatherbarrow, who have understandably been left devastated by her tragic death and I have personally passed on my condolences.

“We accept as an organisation there were shortcomings in the care that we provided to Kesia and following her death we introduced new care processes for those in police custody for whom we have concerns of self-harm in the hope such a tragedy will never occur again.

“I would like to take the opportunity to address erroneous comments made by the IPCC following the inquest, specifically that she was met with “collective apathy” from custody staff who came into contact with her.

“Despite our direct representations to the contrary the IPCC deemed it appropriate to release this statement and it is important that this does not go unchallenged.

Kesia Leatherbarrow, 17, was found dead in Dukinfield, Tameside, on December 3, a day after she left police custody and appeared in court.

She had been arrested by GMP in November 2013, on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of class B drugs.

While in custody, she told staff that she would ‘jump off a bridge’.

Despite this, when Kesia attended a hearing at Tameside magistrates’ court on December 2 she was bailed to re-appear at youth court the following day without being offered any immediate support. She was later found dead.

Watch: Kesia's family react to inquest findings

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At her inquest at Stockport Coroner’s Court, coroner Joanne Kearsley slammed failings by a number of agencies including Greater Manchester Police.

In a statement after the inquest, a spokesman said they found six custody sergeants who had come into contact with Kesia at Ashton-under-Lyne police station had a ‘collective apathy’ towards caring for detainees amounting to ‘unsatisfactory performance’.